This is a guide for the routes from Andalucia to Merida which are attractive for winter walking. The part I walked two weeks ago, from Malaga to Baena was beautiful, especially for the first three days as the Camino climbed up and away from the Mediterranean. Even the many stretches through olive groves had a special charm, like the area for breeding of ecological partridges and, of course the beautiful white villages.
Signing and infrastructure is very good and, until after Cordoba, most stages are reasonably short with accomodation often at intervals of 10km or so.
Since Malaga is also very easily accessed by air, I thought this might interest some members.
This probably should be in "Other routes in Spain" but I don't know how to put it there.

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Good to see that you did this route! Would love to hear more. I really loved the landscape along the Mozárabe from Granada to Mérida, actually much like the Vía de la Plata after Córdoba which of course makes sense given the location. The only negative I would say was that I was TOTALLY alone until I got to Mérida and pilgrim accommodations were few and far between. But luckily the ayuntamientos offered their polideportivos to me and I was able to sleep in a gym mat in the dressing room. Signage Granada-Córdoba was fair but excellent from Córdoba-Mérida so glad to hear that from Málaga it is very good.

And if you are tempted to do the walk from Granada there is a direct bus from the airport in Málaga to Granada (ALSA).

I have the same guide so I hope to use it one day from Málaga!

NOTE TO MODERATOR (can't help you out any longer : please place this in the Mozárabe section under Vía de la Plata. Thanks!

Veteran Member

Thank you @freescot
Haven't read it yet, but is safely stored in Camino(s) section of my hard disc.

I second @LTfit about moving the thread to Mozarabe section. Only yesterday I replied to a post and was almost lost finding out where-the-hell is Mozarabe section. Well, it's kind of logical that it is under VdlP, but then again so could be Via Augusta section...

Moderator

I agree it would be great to have a separate section for Camino Mozárabe, on the understanding that this includes three separate places to begin, all of which end in Mérida, from where it continues on the Vdlp.

At least if I'm reading this right, you can choose Malaga, Jaen, or Almeria (which is the route that goes through Granada) to start.

LT, you walked from Granada, correct? I think the schematic map on p. 8 of this guide is the best place to see the options.

I know I say this a lot, but there are too many caminos and so little time!!!!

Buen camino, Laurie

p.s. and if only Susanna were still a moderator, she would go through all the Vdlp posts and move over the ones that are actually about the Mozárabe. Maybe I´ll do that and send a note to the mods.

Yes, that sounds good. Thanks.
It's true that in the southern half of Spain villages often offer a changing room for the night and mats more often than not. On the Malaga route I found one or two hostels with special rates for pilgrims. The Amigos in Malaga have their own web page - in Spanish, but it has a list of accomodation and hostels, all with phone numbers.
I only returned home for a medical appointment after 8 or 9 days walking which has just got me up to a level of fitness I don't want to lose. SO I am planning to get back on the Mozarabe next week - possibly from Almeria. Apart from the freezing nights it's a great time to walk in Andalucia.

I agree it would be great to have a separate section for Camino Mozárabe, on the understanding that this includes three separate places to begin, all of which end in Mérida, from where it continues on the Vdlp.

At least if I'm reading this right, you can choose Malaga, Jaen, or Almeria (which is the route that goes through Granada) to start.

LT, you walked from Granada, correct? I think the schematic map on p. 8 of this guide is the best place to see the options.

I know I say this a lot, but there are too many caminos and so little time!!!!

Buen camino, Laurie

p.s. and if only Susanna were still a moderator, she would go through all the Vdlp posts and move over the ones that are actually about the Mozárabe. Maybe I´ll do that and send a note to the mods.

Yes, Laurie, there are three starting points and these routes were all inaugrated last year with a big push from the Amigos and European funds for rural development. On the bit I walked there had been Danish and French pilgrims - about 8 in all in January.

Moderator

Yes, that sounds good. Thanks.
It's true that in the southern half of Spain villages often offer a changing room for the night and mats more often than not. On the Malaga route I found one or two hostels with special rates for pilgrims. The Amigos in Malaga have their own web page - in Spanish, but it has a list of accomodation and hostels, all with phone numbers.
I only returned home for a medical appointment after 8 or 9 days walking which has just got me up to a level of fitness I don't want to lose. SO I am planning to get back on the Mozarabe next week - possibly from Almeria. Apart from the freezing nights it's a great time to walk in Andalucia.

Moderator

Oops, now I see I have really messed up. If you go to the Vdlp section of the forum, you´ll see it has four "sub-sections", one of which already is the Camino Mózarabe. So I guess the question is whether it should be moved to its "own" section rather than being embedded in the Vdlp. I am sorry moderators.

Veteran Member

Veteran Member

Yes, that sounds good. Thanks.
It's true that in the southern half of Spain villages often offer a changing room for the night and mats more often than not. On the Malaga route I found one or two hostels with special rates for pilgrims. The Amigos in Malaga have their own web page - in Spanish, but it has a list of accomodation and hostels, all with phone numbers.
I only returned home for a medical appointment after 8 or 9 days walking which has just got me up to a level of fitness I don't want to lose. SO I am planning to get back on the Mozarabe next week - possibly from Almeria. Apart from the freezing nights it's a great time to walk in Andalucia.

Veteran Member

Oops, now I see I have really messed up. If you go to the Vdlp section of the forum, you´ll see it has four "sub-sections", one of which already is the Camino Mózarabe. So I guess the question is whether it should be moved to its "own" section rather than being embedded in the Vdlp. I am sorry moderators.

Exactly what I've already wrote in my first reply to the OP. There is Mozarabe thread, but can't really understand why. I mean, it's OK, but why is Via Augusta under Other Caminos then? Both (all) mentioned are just different starting points which eventually merged with VdlP - if that's the criteria...

Active Member

Hi Freescot, can you help? I'm planning to walk from Malaga starting on the 8th April, two questions relating to my earlier posts, did you have to wade any streams on route? and which route did you take on day two.

Thanks, Ivar. One thing that might help keep things in the right place would be to change the little description of the Mozarabe in the forum listing. Instead of saying it goes from malaga to Santiago, you could say it starts in either Almeria, Malaga or Jaen and joins the Vdlp in Merida.

Administrator

Thanks, Ivar. One thing that might help keep things in the right place would be to change the little description of the Mozarabe in the forum listing. Instead of saying it goes from malaga to Santiago, you could say it starts in either Almeria, Malaga or Jaen and joins the Vdlp in Merida.

Thanks so much to all for your comments and info. Kari and I are thinking of starting from Almeria in September and have allowed around 60 days for an attempt to walk to Santiago. The pdf in English will be very useful and we have Alison's guide for the road from Granada. LT and Free Scot thanks for the remarks about señalizacion. We also heard that it's pretty good out of Almeria. Thanks again to all of you. Laurie, lovely to see you (in print!) again.

I agree it would be great to have a separate section for Camino Mozárabe, on the understanding that this includes three separate places to begin, all of which end in Mérida, from where it continues on the Vdlp.

At least if I'm reading this right, you can choose Malaga, Jaen, or Almeria (which is the route that goes through Granada) to start.

LT, you walked from Granada, correct? I think the schematic map on p. 8 of this guide is the best place to see the options.

I know I say this a lot, but there are too many caminos and so little time!!!!

Buen camino, Laurie

p.s. and if only Susanna were still a moderator, she would go through all the Vdlp posts and move over the ones that are actually about the Mozárabe. Maybe I´ll do that and send a note to the mods.

Laurie, Im, just home from having walked from Almeria to Granada. On the last Three days there were lots of discrepencies between the map, the descriptions and the marking. I'm in contact with the Amigos in Almeria. I'll try to get the whole thing to you soon.

New Member

I am planning to walk the camino de Mazarabe over the Christmas holiday period starting on 21 December, and continuing into early January.
Can anyone answer for me a couple of questions:
1. Are the albergues de peregrinos open over the Christmas holiday? And will there be other people walking at that time? I know that over the Easter holidays a lot of Spaniards walk the camino.
2. How cold will it be at this time of year.? Reading of sleeping on mats in gymnasiums makes my bones shiver. Do I need to be prepared with really warm clothes and a thick sleeping bag, or will a light sleeping bag and a pair of leggings do?
And....considering the cold would you suggest the route up from Malagg or from Almeria.? The Almeria route looks like it goes through beautiful landscape....but is it too high or remote for midwinter??

I am planning to walk the camino de Mazarabe over the Christmas holiday period starting on 21 December, and continuing into early January.
Can anyone answer for me a couple of questions:
1. Are the albergues de peregrinos open over the Christmas holiday? And will there be other people walking at that time? I know that over the Easter holidays a lot of Spaniards walk the camino.
2. How cold will it be at this time of year.? Reading of sleeping on mats in gymnasiums makes my bones shiver. Do I need to be prepared with really warm clothes and a thick sleeping bag, or will a light sleeping bag and a pair of leggings do?
And....considering the cold would you suggest the route up from Malagg or from Almeria.? The Almeria route looks like it goes through beautiful landscape....but is it too high or remote for midwinter??

Hi Nick and thanks for the questions. Around Christmastime it would be necessary with a reasonably good bag. It can get very cold in the mountains and if something happens you would have to prevent freezing while you wait for assistance. There are very very few pilgrims on the Mozarabe so you would not have to worry about overcrowding at any time of year. Because so few are using this Camino it is always necessary to ring and let them know you are coming on the day you arrive or the day before. The list of telephone numbers and places to stay is on the website which is Amigos de Camino Mozarabe de Santiago Almeria. The Almeria route does go high in places, but you are never very far from a village. Best of luck!!

New Member

Hi Nick and thanks for the questions. Around Christmastime it would be necessary with a reasonably good bag. It can get very cold in the mountains and if something happens you would have to prevent freezing while you wait for assistance. There are very very few pilgrims on the Mozarabe so you would not have to worry about overcrowding at any time of year. Because so few are using this Camino it is always necessary to ring and let them know you are coming on the day you arrive or the day before. The list of telephone numbers and places to stay is on the website which is Amigos de Camino Mozarabe de Santiago Almeria. The Almeria route does go high in places, but you are never very far from a village. Best of luck!!

Hi Kevin,
Thanks for your reply, and useful reassurance. Do you know if the albergues on route have heating or blankets? I was thinking of taking a light sleeping bag with a liner and a space blanket in case of emergency rather than a warmer sleeping bag, as from my experience on the Northern routes the albergues are well supplied and it can be quite warm at night. (Will also save me buying another sleeping bag). My concern about cold is more at night than during the day when I will be moving and well wrapped up. Nick from Devon

Active Member

Hi Nick,
Just a few words of caution, the Norte is nothing like the Mozarabe, Maggie and I saw only three other pilgrims on the Mozarabe in spring this year, there are very few Albergues of the type found on the more common routes. In a few places we had to ford streams/rivers, its fairly remote in many places, I'm not entirely sure its a suitable winter camino for a solo? walker, but best of luck in any case.
Regards
George

New Member

Hi George,
Thanks for the words of caution. I have read up on several blogs and met someone who did the Camino de Mazarabe, and I realise that there will not be any other pilgrims on the route. I was concerned about the weather, but managed to contact the amigos de Almeria yesterday who reassured me that it will be passable, but to contact her just before I set off. If the weather is bad, I will walk the easier route from Malaga.

I think she said that the albergues will have blankets that I can use. But, if you did the walk in the spring perhaps you could confirm that for me. I was struggling to understand the Andalucian accent over Whatsap.

Anyway I am going to walk it; but am looking for company if anyone else would be moved to walk over the 12 days of Christmas.

Active Member

Hi Nick,
As far as I remember in most places there was some form of bedding. have you looked at Maggies fantastic blogg at www.magwood.me, that will give you a fair idea of the Mozarabe, as I remember the terrain for the first week or more was tough enough so its no easy option, and we did come across a few dry rivers that may be flowing in Dec/Jan not to mention a few rivers/streams that we had to wade across.
In most places we had to seek out the accomodation, we found the best point of call was the local police office or town hall, but be aware that some towns/villages have no pilgrim albergue.
It looks as though you have decided on the Mozarabe, but have you considered the via del la plata? theres a lot more camino infrastructure, and the Mozarabe does join it at Merida.
Best regards
George

New Member

Got my credential through from ivar yesterday (many thanks). Noticed that the map of caminos on the reverse show a link from mozarab that branches and joins vdlp at Caceres. Cant find any mention In Mozarabe guide. Anyone walked it? Is it waymarked?.

Veteran Member

Got my credential through from ivar yesterday (many thanks). Noticed that the map of caminos on the reverse show a link from mozarab that branches and joins vdlp at Caceres. Cant find any mention In Mozarabe guide. Anyone walked it? Is it waymarked?.

I'm hoping to walk a mozárabe variant this autumn, leaving the main route at Magacela (a couple of days short of Mérida), moving north to Villanueva de la Serena etc. This version (which coincides for a bit with the camino to Guadalupe) apparently connects with the Plata after Plasencia, taking in Trujillo and the national park of Monfragüe as well - all places I've wanted to see. Mostly on vías pecuaria etc, but I suspect probably not signposted (except on the GR etc bits).

Veteran Member

I'm hoping to walk a mozárabe variant this autumn, leaving the main route at Magacela (a couple of days short of Mérida), moving north to Villanueva de la Serena etc. This version (which coincides for a bit with the camino to Guadalupe) apparently connects with the Plata after Plasencia, taking in Trujillo and the national park of Monfragüe as well - all places I've wanted to see. Mostly on vías pecuaria etc, but I suspect probably not signposted (except on the GR etc bits).

This is a guide for the routes from Andalucia to Merida which are attractive for winter walking. The part I walked two weeks ago, from Malaga to Baena was beautiful, especially for the first three days as the Camino climbed up and away from the Mediterranean. Even the many stretches through olive groves had a special charm, like the area for breeding of ecological partridges and, of course the beautiful white villages.
Signing and infrastructure is very good and, until after Cordoba, most stages are reasonably short with accomodation often at intervals of 10km or so.
Since Malaga is also very easily accessed by air, I thought this might interest some members.
This probably should be in "Other routes in Spain" but I don't know how to put it there.

I walked the Vldp in the Spring of 2015 and am interested in returning for 2-3 weeks to walk a portion of the Camino Mozarabe this winter. What is the weather like in late December? Any pointers or feedback on winter walking in southern Spain would be appreciated!

Veteran Member

I walked the Vldp in the Spring of 2015 and am interested in returning for 2-3 weeks to walk a portion of the Camino Mozarabe this winter. What is the weather like in late December? Any pointers or feedback on winter walking in southern Spain would be appreciated!

I live in Andalucia and last year walked the Mozárabe from Malaga commencing early April. The weather in December can be very variable, but you can be fairly sure that it will be cold at night, although it is possible that you will have beautiful sunny days. You could also have miserable rainy days - just like anywhere really. You won't be able to make very early morning starts unless you like walking in the dark, it will probably be 08:00 before it starts to get light.

I reached Mérida on the VdlP in 18 days. It was a beautiful walk in spring - some of the farmland may be a bit more barren in winter.

You are welcome to look at my blog - I posted live every day with lots of info about the route and the accommodation (see link in signature line) and @Anniesantiago has walked part of the Mozárabe recently and has also reported on this forum and her blog about the route and conditions.